The Ravens are typically a strong team coming off of a bye week under head coach John Harbaugh.
Baltimore entered Sunday’s game against the Rams at 12-3 in such games, only losing to the Browns (2013), Jaguars (2015) and Steelers (2020). With steady rain pouring at M&T Bank Stadium, the Ravens looked out of sync and still somehow overcame Los Angeles in a 37-31 overtime win.
The Ravens were led in part by a go ahead 21-yard touchdown pass from Lamar Jackson to Zay Flowers, followed by the two linking up for a two-point conversion with 1:16 left in the game. Los Angeles drove down the field for Lucas Havrisik to kick a 36-yard field goal for the 31-31 tie.
After two straight three-and-out drives by the Ravens and Rams in overtime, Tylan Wallace slammed the door shut with a 76-yard punt return for a touchdown.
Here are five takeaways from the Ravens 37-31 win over the Rams.
Lamar Jackson stepped his game up when the team needed it most
Jackson needs to be at the top of his game for the Ravens to win a Super Bowl. He did exactly what he needed to do in Sunday’s win to march toward that goal. The sixth-year quarterback went 24-of-43 (55.8%) on passes for 316 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. He also averaged 6.36 yards per carry with 11 rushes for 70 yards on the ground.
He struck fire with Flowers on six receptions for 60 yards and a touchdown. Odell Beckham Jr. had four grabs for 97 yards and a touchdown. Isaiah Likely had his strongest game yet in the absence of Mark Andrews with five catches for 83 yards and a touchdown. Nelson Agholor, Rashod Bateman, Justice Hill and Keaton Mitchell combined for nine receptions for 76 yards.
Spreading the ball around and making the Rams pay for it in crunch time made for a strong day from Jackson.
John Harbaugh’s clock management strikes again
Harbaugh has proven himself to be one of the top coaches in the NFL over his 15-year tenure with the Ravens. He’s been to the playoffs in 10 of the previous 15 seasons and will almost certainly go this season with a 10-3 record this year and the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
He challenged the Demarcus Robinson touchdown that gave the Rams a 28-23 lead – a play where it was completely clear that it was a score. It left Baltimore with two timeouts with less than five minutes left in regulation. The 16th-year veteran head coach also declined to call a timeout while his team drove down the field late in the second quarter, which would’ve given the team an opportunity to go for a tie or lead ahead of halftime.
The Ravens still won. They won the week prior and the week before that too. Baltimore is now 13-3 following a bye week with Harbaugh.
Mistakes, Mistakes, Mistakes
Seven penalties for 79 yards, a bad interception from Jackson that led to a scoring drive by Los Angeles and the aforementioned flubs by Harbaugh. The team still found a way to win.
Justin Tucker deserves his flowers and more
He’s a definitive Hall of Fame kicker. Tucker is the best to ever play the position. He also went 3-for-3 on field goals with a long of 47 yards, along with two converted extra-point kicks. The team needed him to provide a steady foot and that he did.
Baltimore’s defense held up when needed
That wasn’t the usual Ravens defense that fans, media members and casual watchers of the sport have been accustomed to seeing this season. Baltimore gave up 410 total net yards, allowed six third down conversions and had five penalties that gave the Rams five first downs.
The Ravens gave up three passing touchdowns – albeit to a very good Matthew Stafford and a strong receiving corps that’s headlined by Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp. Kyren Williams ran rampant over the team – no pun intended. He had 25 carries for 114 yards.
Baltimore needed a stop from its defense after a three-and-out from its offense in overtime. Three plays. Six yards. That was it for the Rams, allowing for the game-winning punt return by Wallace.
Bonus: Is Joe Flacco back?
Is it 2012 all over again? The Cleveland Browns picked up Flacco ahead of the team’s Dec. 3 game against the Rams. The 38-year old quarterback tossed for 254 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in a 36-19 loss to Los Angeles. However, he followed up with 311 passing yards with three touchdowns and an interception in a 31-27 win over the Jaguars on Sunday to keep the Browns well within the Wild Card race.
His team has an 8-5 record, the Browns have Chicago, Houston, the New York Jets and the ailing Bengals left on the schedule. It’s not quite an insurmountable hump to get over for Flacco. The most ironic part of it all – he could be facing his old team in Baltimore in the playoffs. It’s not out of the question.
Kyle J. Andrews is a 2018 University of Baltimore and Mount Saint Joseph High School graduate, along with former sports reporter for the Centre Daily Times in State College, Pa., the Baltimore Sun Media Group, 105.7 The Fan, Baltimore Beatdown, and Fox Sports 1340 AM. He has covered the Orioles, Ravens, high school sports in the Baltimore area and Central Pennsylvania, minor league baseball, Penn State and Maryland athletics and more.